David Crowe listed five actions of government that help Australians (“Albanese report card: Even after a grim year, don’t write him off”, December 28). Bravo, it’s doing its job (yes, a daily grind) yet he cites a drift in the polls, perhaps because people have no sense of a political mission. Our renewable energy revolution, lowering the temperature with China, the Helpto Buy scheme, Build to Rent, $1 billion early education fund, changes to student loans, etc, isn’t enough? It appears as though the Albanese government also needs ambitious second-term reform of economic policies to engender gratitude in our populace. I will be more than grateful if they are given the chance to do so early next year. Yvonne Jessup, Byron Bay
David Crowe’s Albanese Report Card article is not a complete performance summary of 2024. Why is there no mention of the treachery committed by a Labor government against the CFMEU Construction Division and workers generally? Albanese is now despised by many blue-collar workers in all sectors. The forced administration has set a dangerous precedent, and as a long-term ALP and CFMEU member I intend on repaying Albanese & Co the favour come election day by punishing them at the ballot box. Paul Taylor, Murwillumbah
Yes or no to Anthony Albanese?Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald
The Albanese government has become an overexposed commercial, reacting to events rather than producing any new ideas or solutions, and propped by the media. After the blaming of previous governments and inaugurating projects started by them, they were left without any clothes, like the fairytale emperor. Victor Vella, Baulkham Hills
After Donald Trump’s astounding victory some weeks ago I have lost faith in political prognosticating. The polls clearly show Anthony Albanese faring badly as cost-of-living pressures hit home (incidentally, a global problem). My own dilemma with him and his government was his extreme caution in finally joining the majority of the world’s countries in calling on Israel to comply with international law. But I think, when the chips are down, when the stark choices are laid before us, the majority will see Peter Dutton’s hare-brained nuclear power plants policy for what it really is. They will compare the polished performance of future leader Jim Chalmers with Angus Taylor, the inept, bumbling shadow treasurer; they will remember the Scott Morrison debacle years and the unruly Nationals, an erratic part of the Coalition. And sanity will prevail. Dutton will then be likely given a job with one of Gina Rinehart’s companies but, if not, he and his wife can concentrate on their not insubstantial property portfolio. Bernard Moylan, Bronte
Free with his advice
Peter Dutton refuses to disclose the nature of legal advice provided by Arnold Bloch Leibler (“Dutton’s mystery free legal advice from Melbourne firm”, December 28). If it were Anthony Albanese, Dutton and his cohort would be demanding answers. Australian voters are also entitled to proper disclosure. Peng Ee, Castle Cove
Does anyone else detect a distinct hint of hypocrisy? First, doesn’t every federal politician have access to free legal advice, courtesy of our tax dollars? That is, assuming the advice covers a political, not a private, concern. Second, that evergreen expression “nothing to hide, nothing to fear” would seem applicable. Why obfuscate over such a simple fundamental protocol? Apart from the above, imagine the former policeman from Queensland allowing anyone from his opposite political side to get away with this kind of clumsy political sidestep. Pub test? A miserable failure. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why
Recipes for chaos
Even if Dutton somehow wins the next election (“DM to wannabe PMs: Shake it up!” December 28), it is obvious that he cannot follow through on his fantastical nuclear scenario for the multitude of reasons now evident. He will then be in the invidious position of having to back down on his one key policy, having no other energy policy to replace it, nor indeed other articulated policies. Coalition voters should realise that this is a recipe for chaotic government, particularly in energy policy at such a critical time in the race to ameliorate global warming. Darrall Cutting, Forestville
James Massola advocates Josh Frydenberg for US ambassador if Labor wins the next election, and a Labor luminary such as Julia Gillard or Bill Shorten if the LNP does. Shouldn’t we just send the best person for the job? Franz Weiss, Maroubra
Tony Abbott only appeared once on the ABC (unlike John Winston Howard, who stonewalled Kerry O’Brien endlessly) and that was in his death throes when Malcolm Turnbull was circling with the numbers locked in. Peter King, Windsor Downs
Skip and scan
Reading the papers now, a lot of articles suggest deciding not to make any New Year resolutions because it’s a waste of time. Others say try it and see if they last. My resolution is to skip over articles that make me depressed. Wars, crime, hate speech, nasty people, etc. There is very little I can do about them, so I might choose to only read positive things. Articles about people who want to do and say the right thing, help others, love Australia, etc. But I might not have much to read. Sad, really. Janet Scilly, Waterloo
Compulsive behaviours
Your correspondent (Letters, December 28) repeats the old furphy that we have compulsory voting in Australia. He says we fine people for not reporting to vote, but the fact is we fine people for not reporting to a voting station. We have a secret ballot system, so nobody knows what we do with the voting papers we are then handed. Most people, fortunately, then exercise their right, not duty, to vote. Others can, without any penalty, throw the papers in a bin or place them in the ballot box blank or defaced. There is no penalty for not recording a valid vote. David Fraser, Ballina
Why wouldn’t you want to go?Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
There appears to be confusion about “compulsory” voting. You have to attend an electoral polling booth. Once there and marked off, you can exercise your democratic right to vote for a candidate or exercise your democratic right not to vote for anyone. If it upsets you, you can pay a fine considerably less than one for parking in a No Standing Zone, which people seem to do happily. Henry Brender, Double Bay
Compulsory voting focuses people’s attention on what it means to live in a democracy. As other countries deny people the right to determine how they are governed, and by whom, it is refreshing to observe polling-day Saturdays here. No violence, no identity requirements, plus a “democracy sausage” (with tomato sauce) at the end. What’s not to like? Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga
I think the federal “administrative penalty” last year was $20, and almost any excuse will get you off. I, for one, believe compulsory voting is a good thing for democracy. Dennis Fardy, Warriewood
Seabird steward is an inspiration
Shore and migratory birds need more Julie Keatings (‴Crazy lady’ stands between birds and extinction”, December 28). If more people were willing to speak up, the birds might just get the priority they urgently need. Dog owners might become more responsible.
There are nowhere near enough rangers, either council or NPWS, to educate and protect the vulnerable birds, at a time when our growing population is increasingly having an impact on their habitat. Karen Joynes, Bermagui
For the past decade, Julie Keating has spent most of her waking hours guarding seabirds on the Maianbar foreshore.Credit: Louise Kennerley
The work of Julie Keating in Port Hacking to monitor and protect her local seabirds is so inspiring. These extraordinary migrating birds have more than enough to contend with while completing their remarkable journeys, and we should all be as welcoming and protective as Julie is with her flock. What a different and more beautiful world we would live in if all humans had her commitment and dedication to preserving our flora and fauna. Well done, Julie. Stuart Laurence, Cammeray
Trampled under foot, snatched by feral predators, harassed by dogs. Such are the additional hazards to the mind-boggling migrations of these dauntless avian travellers. The endeavours of anyone such as Julie Keating who shepherd this journey are far from crazy. They possess a sanity essential if we humans are to prove worthy custodians of the remarkable life on Earth. As a reality check, all is for nought in the stewardship of the crucial nurturing mud flats and sandbars, should rising seas be the future. Steve Dillon, Thirroul
Wildlife at a loss
Alex Crowe’s article (“A lounge filled with joeys: Wildlife rescuers brace for influx of animals injured in Grampians blaze”, smh.com.au, December 28) brings to the forefront the role of wildlife volunteer rescuers and carers in the time of major bushfires. Wildlife carers will go to great lengths to protect their vulnerable charges, even risking their own lives. Sadly, though, there is no provision in any state nor federal emergency plans for the safe evacuation of carers and their animals; evacuation centres allow family pets but not joeys, kangaroos, wombats nor koalas, so wildlife carers must either stay or find somewhere relatively safe, such as a supermarket car park. I have lobbied my local federal member of parliament, the state member responsible for emergency services, but have never received any response. In the 2019 bushfires, one wildlife carer who stayed with her animals suffered the loss of her sanctuary and severe burns. Some carers released their animals to save them from likely death in enclosures, which means months of ongoing care lost, with stress and concern about whether the animals have survived. We do not want this situation to happen again. Eira Battaglia, Seaforth
Massaging the truth
As a clinical immunologist, it was disturbing to read an article about a lymphatic massage treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (“Chronic fatigue has no cure, but one doctor believes he has an answer”, December 28). Most readers would assume the doctor in the title to be a medical practitioner, not an osteopath with a PhD. The claims are unsupported by an appropriate evidence base; anecdotes from satisfied customers is not evidence for efficacy. A peer-reviewed, placebo-controlled clinical trial would be extremely unlikely to ever occur as funding relies upon a threshold level of biological plausibility for a proposed medical intervention. In my view, the postulated theory of massaging toxins away from the brain would not come close. The Royal Australasian College of Physicians published clinical practice guidelines for CFS 20 years ago which validated it as a significant disorder to prevent doctors from dismissing it as an illness because it didn’t have a proven cause or diagnostic laboratory test. The expert committee, which I co-chaired, gave practical advice on management and recommended investment in research. With every patient I have seen with CFS, I have done my best to assist with their understanding of the importance of an evidence base in a field replete with spurious claims that lead only to dashed hopes. Graeme Stewart, Avalon Beach
Yachting dangers
The start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race this year.Credit: Getty Images
David Salter’s interesting article (“Race is not for beginners yet trainee sailors buy their spot on boats”, December 28) and the comments of the vice commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club do not go far enough. I have been involved in yacht racing for about 50 years, not only as an owner/skipper but also as a member of a racing crew. In the main, it is a male-dominated sport. The yacht’s crew mainly consists of testosterone-fuelled males who think they are bulletproof. If bad weather is threatened, it only seems to take someone on board to ask, “are we men or mice?” to sway a decision to race into a probable impending disaster. What other sport allows play if dangerous weather is threatened? Football has its dry lightning protocol, and skydivers would not jump in bad weather. Is it time to take the decision away from the clubs on whether to start a race? Aren’t they compromised with sponsor pressure and all that TV advertising? Let’s consider having the authorities call the shots on yacht race starting weather protocol. Tony Saunders, Hunters Hill
Migrants pass Test
While I was watching the Test match from the MCG, especially the crowd shots, the recent correspondence about immigration and visitor numbers came to my mind. It struck me that the crowd numbers would be much smaller if those migrants and visitors had not come to Australia. There they were, doing their bit to support the economy as well as their team. I would think Cricket Australia is glad they are here. Bob Richards, Kirrawee
From here, there and everywhere to watch the cricketCredit: AP
The general media doesn’t seem to have cottoned on to the impact the new cricket sensation Sam Konstas has had on the Greek Australian community. Cricket rarely, if ever, gets talked about, let alone featured, in the Greek media. But since Boxing Day, mainstream and social media sites geared for those of Greek origin have gone overboard on reporting about not only Konstas but cricket in general, with everyone suddenly becoming an expert on the game and about his Greek-god-like ability. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury
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